Sevenoaks Vine were crowned Kent Cricket League Premier Division champions after defeating Blackheath by 41 runs on the final day of the season.

In pursuit of their first championship triumph since 1997, John Bowden and Oliver Durell (44) settled the home supporters’ nerves with an opening stand of 59.

Blackheath’s Warren Lee (5-42) dismissed both in a fantastic spell of bowling, but with contributions from Fabian Cowdrey (51), Lorne Burns (39) and Anthony Shales (29), the Vine accumulated 249-9 from their allotted 50 overs.

In reply, Dipayan Paul (39) and Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond (49) set upon the task well, but both failed to push on and at 131-3 the game was evenly poised.

Nick Sale (3-35) turned the game in the hosts’ favour, however, when he dismissed the dangerous Lee for 44.

Little resistance followed and Bowden picked up a trio of wickets as the visitors collapsed from 160-3 to 208 all out.

Victory ensured Sevenoaks finished on 258 points, ten clear of Lordswood, who ended the campaign in style with a seventh consecutive win over fellow high-flyers Hartley.

Hartley elected to bowl and started brightly, with Daniel Redwood (3-14) taking three early wickets as Lordswood stumbled to 25-5.

Essex seamer David Masters and Lordswood skipper Chris Piesley stabilised proceedings with a 93-run partnership.

Piesley fell for 41 but Masters (62) became increasingly fluent, hitting a vital half-century which included three fours and three maximums.

Jack Laraman bagged three wickets to finish the innings off, although not before Lordswood had amassed a very competitive 197.

Daniel Masters (3-25) and Palash Joshi (3-36) performed superbly with the ball to prevent Hartley any chance of a successful chase.

Scott McKechnie (46) completed a consistent year with another solid knock, but the visitors fell 45 runs short and finished third in the league, with their conquerors snatching second place.

At the other end of the table, Bromley (219-8) secured top flight cricket for another season by beating Sandwich Town (182) by 37 runs.

In the crucial relegation fixture, Miguel Barbosa (73) and James Butterfill (42) made the perfect start by putting on 111 runs without loss.

Bromley failed to fully capitalise on this platform, but some big hitting from Robbie Joseph (32) and Calum Basey (21) at least took them past 200.

Joseph demonstrated his quality with the ball, dismissing both Sandwich openers, including Marnus Labuschagne, the leading run-scorer in the league.

Robert Goatham (40) briefly held the innings together, but his defiance was in vain as Joseph (4-44), Ranjit Singh (2-20) and Robert McNeill (2-44) picked up regular wickets and Sandwich were bowled out for 182.

Despite a spirited 62 run victory over Beckenham, Canterbury were condemned to relegation after Bromley’s triumph.

An efficient bowling display, of which Junaid Nadir (3-35) and Chris Isles (2-23) starred, saw Canterbury stagger to 181, although the visitors travelled home with a hollow victory as they skittled Beckenham over for just 119.

Bexley’s impressive form during the season’s run in continued with a crushing win over basement side Bickley Park.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, an outstanding century from George Wells (133) and fifties from Aiden Griggs (55) and Adeel Malik (54) fired Bexley to 291-5.

Daniel Magin smashed 49 in his naturally aggressive fashion, but the hosts’ dependable bowling attack proved too much and Bickley fell over 100 runs short.

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